If you're not already growing your own fruits and veggies at home, we hope 2023 is the year you start!
If you're not already growing your own fruits and veggies at home, we hope 2023 is the year you start! From better-tasting produce to saving money at the grocery store, growing your own food has some amazing benefits that we hope you take advantage of this year. While there are dozens of reasons to take the plunge, here are our top 5 favorites to get you motivated and excited about the growing season ahead: 1) The Food is Better!If you think store-bought food tastes good, just wait until you taste your very own fresh fruit and veggies picked straight off the plant! Nothing beats the flavor of fresh, and growing your own food guarantees a steady supply of only the finest ingredients. Another huge perk of growing your own food from your Bettendorf home is knowing what's going into it, as you control exactly how it's produced. Knowing what's in your food keeps you in control of your health and encourages growing practices that are sustainable, safe, and beneficial for the earth. With your backyard food garden, you'll have great-tasting organic produce free of pesticides and other harmful additives at your fingertips! 2) It’s a Money-SaverIf you've ever priced out a package of seeds at the garden center, you can imagine all the money you'll save growing your own food. It's no secret that supermarket food costs are steadily increasing, so keeping it simple and growing your favorite produce at home to save a few bucks seems like a no-brainer. After all, why spend $10 on an overpriced head of lettuce when you could grow dozens of them for just a few dollars? You'll also have plenty to go around, meaning you'll have fresh produce for all your family and friends all season long! Another way to save money during your gardening adventures is to make your own garden beds and herb boxes. Even if you don't have a large outdoor space or a designated greenhouse just yet, you can still get the party started with some mini gardens on your windowsill or patio, as long as it receives plenty of good, dependable sunlight. 3) It’s SustainableLearning to grow your own food can become more than simply having a fresh herb garden on your doorstep: a family garden full of heirloom vegetables can sustain you, your children, and even your grandkids with superior-quality food for years to come with proper care and maintenance. Some of our favorite, easy-to-grow veggies with excellent heirloom varieties include:
Beets: ‘Detroit Dark Red’, ‘Golden’
Peppers: ‘Cayenne Long Thin Red’, ‘Hungarian Yellow Wax’
Lettuce: ‘Salad Bowl Green’, ‘Salad Bowl Red’, ‘Parris Island Romaine’
Remember to source good-quality seeds for your heirloom varieties! We love the seeds from Seed Savers Exchange (available at Wallace’s). Seed Savers Exchange is a non-profit organization based near Decorah, Iowa that preserves heirloom plant varieties through regeneration, distribution, and seed exchange. It is one of the largest nongovernmental seed banks in the United States. 4) It’s Eco-FriendlyIt takes a lot of precious resources to ship food across the globe, and every time we take a trip to the grocery store, our carbon footprint grows that much bigger. By growing your own food right here in Bettendorf, you're working toward a cleaner future. You're also helping to keep local pollinators, like bees, very happy. Planting a diverse and colorful garden full of fresh produce not only helps provide pollinators with food and shelter, it also makes Bettendorf a more beautiful place rich in biodiversity. 5) It’s Easy to Grow Your Own Food in BettendorfThe best thing about growing your own food is that it's surprisingly easy: all you need to start growing your own food is some good potting mix, quality seeds, a growing container, water, and lots of light! Before you know it, you'll have the whole family munching on the fruits of your labor. If you're still unsure where to start, don't worry: a quick trip to Wallace's to chat with our team of knowledgeable garden experts, and you'll have all the advice you'll need to get growing your own food with confidence! We hope we've inspired you to take another look at growing your own food and the many ways it can change your diet, your lifestyle, and your appreciation for mother nature. If you've decided you're ready to start growing your own food in Bettendorf, we're here to help! Come visit us at Wallace's Garden Center today for fresh ideas, supplies, and lots of inspiration for your new garden.
Wallace's is a great place to visit even if you're not looking to
stock up on gardening supplies. It's beautiful inside and out, with some space dedicated to inside decor and
jewelry, and tons more to the beautification of your patio, lawn, and garden. I went there on a mission to find my
mom a succulent and a tiger lily for Mother's Day and we were all thrilled with the results, so much so that I
returned make an identical purchase for my grandmother!
1) The Food is Better!
If you think store-bought food tastes good, just wait until you taste your very own fresh fruit and veggies picked straight off the plant! Nothing beats the flavor of fresh, and growing your own food guarantees a steady supply of only the finest ingredients.
Another huge perk of growing your own food from your Bettendorf home is knowing what's going into it, as you control exactly how it's produced. Knowing what's in your food keeps you in control of your health and encourages growing practices that are sustainable, safe, and beneficial for the earth.
With your backyard food garden, you'll have great-tasting organic produce free of pesticides and other harmful additives at your fingertips!
2) It’s a Money-Saver
If you've ever priced out a package of seeds at the garden center, you can imagine all the money you'll save growing your own food. It's no secret that supermarket food costs are steadily increasing, so keeping it simple and growing your favorite produce at home to save a few bucks seems like a no-brainer. After all, why spend $10 on an overpriced head of lettuce when you could grow dozens of them for just a few dollars? You'll also have plenty to go around, meaning you'll have fresh produce for all your family and friends all season long! Another way to save money during your gardening adventures is to make your own garden beds and herb boxes.
Even if you don't have a large outdoor space or a designated greenhouse just yet, you can still get the party started with some mini gardens on your windowsill or patio, as long as it receives plenty of good, dependable sunlight.
3) It’s Sustainable
Learning to grow your own food can become more than simply having a fresh herb garden on your doorstep: a family garden full of heirloom vegetables can sustain you, your children, and even your grandkids with superior-quality food for years to come with proper care and maintenance.
Some of our favorite, easy-to-grow veggies with excellent heirloom varieties include:
4) It’s Eco-Friendly
It takes a lot of precious resources to ship food across the globe, and every time we take a trip to the grocery store, our carbon footprint grows that much bigger. By growing your own food right here in Bettendorf, you're working toward a cleaner future. You're also helping to keep local pollinators, like bees, very happy. Planting a diverse and colorful garden full of fresh produce not only helps provide pollinators with food and shelter, it also makes Bettendorf a more beautiful place rich in biodiversity.
5) It’s Easy to Grow Your Own Food in Bettendorf
The best thing about growing your own food is that it's surprisingly easy: all you need to start growing your own food is some good potting mix, quality seeds, a growing container, water, and lots of light! Before you know it, you'll have the whole family munching on the fruits of your labor. If you're still unsure where to start, don't worry: a quick trip to Wallace's to chat with our team of knowledgeable garden experts, and you'll have all the advice you'll need to get growing your own food with confidence!
We hope we've inspired you to take another look at growing your own food and the many ways it can change your diet, your lifestyle, and your appreciation for mother nature. If you've decided you're ready to start growing your own food in Bettendorf, we're here to help! Come visit us at Wallace's Garden Center today for fresh ideas, supplies, and lots of inspiration for your new garden.
